Desperate for Obamacare Sign-Ups, HHS Partners With PayNearMe To Reach ‘Financially Underserved’

The severe unpopularity of Obamacare has led the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to announce a partnership with technology company PayNearMe to reach what it refers to as the “financially underserved” and others who use mainly cash to pay for purchases.

According to a release from the HHS Press Office Thursday, HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell joined with leaders from both PayNearMe, an electronic cash transaction network, and 7-Eleven, Inc. to demonstrate how consumers could receive receipts that give instructions in how to enroll in Obamacare health insurance plans during the Open Enrollment period.

“Leveraging developments from technology companies like PayNearMe helps us to reach our consumers where they are, with the information they need to sign up and re-enroll in quality, affordable care through the Health Insurance Marketplace,” Burwell says. “With this partnership, we are using digital platforms to place Open Enrollment information in the hands of consumers who need it.”

The Open Enrollment period in the Obamacare health insurance exchanges began November 15, 2014 and runs through February 15, 2015.

HHS states that PayNearMe receipts printed at 7,800 7-Eleven stores throughout the country during Open Enrollment will also contain a message informing consumers about Obamacare enrollment.

“Putting these reminders at the bottom of PayNearMe receipts will help get health coverage information into the hands of traditionally hard-to-reach consumers,” HHS says. “Because PayNearMe receipts serve as a consumer’s proof of payment for important items such as rent, loans and utilities, they are more likely to be inspected and retained than a traditional receipt.”

“Banked or unbanked, cash or plastic – no matter what your preference, everyone can benefit from affordable health care,” said Danny Shader, PayNearMe’s founder and chief executive officer, according to the HHS release. “By partnering with the Department of Health and Human Services, we can help generate awareness of this open enrollment process among consumers.”